Former Manchester United managers Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sacked following Europe setbacks

Fenerbahce and Besiktas have both made shock coaching changes this week following disappointing European campaigns. Portuguese tactician Jose Mourinho was relieved of his duties at Fenerbahce on Friday after the club failed to reach the Champions League group stage, falling to Benfica in a crucial play-off tie. The 62-year-old, who arrived in Istanbul in June 2024 amid fanfare, had guided the Yellow Canaries to second place in the Turkish league last season. His tenure, however, was marked by setbacks both on and off the field, including clashes with Galatasaray coach Okan Buruk and criticism of Turkish referees. Fenerbahce expressed gratitude for Mourinho’s efforts and wished him success in the future. Meanwhile, Besiktas parted ways with former Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on Thursday. The club’s 1-0 defeat to Swiss side Lausanne in the UEFA Conference League play-off meant Besiktas were eliminated 2-1 on aggregate, prompting an emergency board meeting that ended in Solskjaer’s dismissal.Appointed in January, the Norwegian had faced growing pressure following European and domestic disappointments, including a fourth-place league finish and early Europa League exit. Besiktas thanked Solskjaer for his services in a formal statement. Both high-profile departures highlight the pressure on Turkish clubs to succeed in Europe, even for managers with decorated careers. Mourinho leaves behind memories of passion and controversy, while Solskjaer’s brief Istanbul stint ends after an intense period of expectation and scrutiny. Fans now await who will take the reins at these two storied Istanbul clubs as they aim to rebuild and challenge again on the domestic and European fronts.